251.04(6)(a)
(a) Assess public health needs and advocate for the provision of reasonable and necessary public health services.

251.04(6)(b)
(b) Develop policy and provide leadership that fosters local involvement and commitment, that emphasizes public health needs and that advocates for equitable distribution of public health resources and complementary private activities commensurate with public health needs.

251.04(7)
(7) A local board of health shall assure that measures are taken to provide an environment in which individuals can be healthy.

251.04(8)
(8) Unless the manner of employment is otherwise provided for by ordinance, a local board of health shall employ qualified public health professionals, including a public health nurse to conduct general public health nursing programs under the direction of the local board of health and in cooperation with the department, and may employ one or more sanitarians to conduct environmental programs and other public health programs not specifically designated by statute as functions of the public health nurse. The local board of health shall coordinate the activities of any sanitarian employed by the governing body of the jurisdiction that the local board of health serves. The local board of health is not required to employ different persons to perform these functions.

251.04(9)
(9) In counties with a single county health department and either a county executive or a county administrator, the county executive or county administrator may assume the powers and duties of a local board of health under this section. If a county executive or a county administrator elects to assume those powers and duties, the local board of health shall be only a policy-making body determining the broad outlines and principles governing the administration of the county health department.

251.05(1)(1) A local health department shall meet the following requirements specified in par. (a) and may, unless sub. (6) applies, meet the following requirements specified in par. (b) or (c):

251.05(1)(a)
(a) As a Level I local health department, at least the level of services specified in sub. (2) (a) with a local health officer who at least meets the qualifications specified in s. 251.06 (1) (a) or with a person who meets the qualifications specified in s. 251.06 (1m).

251.05(1)(b)
(b) As a Level II local health department, at least the level of services specified in sub. (2) (b) with a local health officer who at least meets the qualifications specified in s. 251.06 (1) (b) or with a person who meets the qualifications specified in s. 251.06 (1m).

251.05(1)(c)
(c) As a Level III local health department, at least the level of services specified in sub. (2) (c) with a local health officer who at least meets the qualifications specified in s. 251.06 (1) (c) or with a person who meets the qualifications specified in s. 251.06 (1m).

251.05(2)
(2) The services to be provided by the 3 levels of local health departments are as follows:

251.05(2)(a)
(a) A Level I local health department shall provide at least surveillance, investigation, control and prevention of communicable diseases, other disease prevention, health promotion and human health hazard control.

251.05(2)(b)
(b) A Level II local health department shall provide at least the services under par. (a) and additional services specified by the department by rule under s. 251.20 (2).

251.05(2)(c)
(c) A Level III local health department shall provide at least the services under par. (a) and additional services specified by the department by rule under s. 251.20 (2) and (3).

251.05(3)(a)
(a) Regularly and systematically collect, assemble, analyze and make available information on the health of the community, including statistics on health status, community health needs and epidemiologic and other studies of health problems.

251.05(3)(b)
(b) Develop public health policies and procedures for the community.

251.05(3)(c)
(c) Involve key policymakers and the general public in determining a set of high priority public health services and assure access to these services to every member of the community.

251.05(3)(d)
(d) Submit data, as requested, to the local public health data system established by the department.

251.05(4)
(4) Except as provided in sub. (6), a local health department is not required to provide the level of services that is specified in sub. (1) (b) or (c) or to have a local health officer who meets the qualifications specified in sub. (1) (b) or (c).

251.05(5)
(5) Except as provided in sub. (6), the department may not require a local health department to provide the level of services that is specified in sub. (1) (b) or (c) or to have a local health officer who meets the qualifications specified in sub. (1) (b) or (c).

251.05(6)
(6) A local health department may be required to provide the level of services that is specified in sub. (1) (b) or (c) if and only to the extent that these services and qualifications are funded from state and federal funds that are available and are additional to any funding available on January 1, 1994.

251.06(1)(a)1.1. Except as provided in subd. 2. or 3., a local health officer of a Level I local health department shall have at least a bachelor's degree from a nursing program accredited by the national professional nursing education accrediting organization or from a nursing program accredited by the board of nursing.

251.06(1)(a)2.
2. A local health officer of a village or town health department established under s. 251.02 (3m) or of a multiple municipal local health department established under s. 251.02 (3r) shall be either a physician or a registered nurse. The local health officer shall be a voting member of the local board of health and shall take an oath of office. With respect to the levels of services of a Level I local health department, as specified in s. 251.05 (2) (a), the local health officer shall be authorized to act by and be directed by the county health officer of the county specified under s. 251.02 (3m).

251.06(1)(a)3.
3. If there is more than one full-time employee of a Level I local health department, including a full-time public health nurse who meets the qualifications specified under s. 250.06, the local health officer may meet the qualifications of a Level II or Level III local health officer.

251.06(1)(b)
(b) A local health officer of a Level II local health department shall have at least 3 years of experience in a full-time position with a public health agency, including responsibility for a communicable disease prevention and control program, preferably in a supervisory or other administrative position, and at least one of the following:

251.06(1)(b)1.
1. A bachelor's degree from a nursing program accredited by the national professional nursing education accrediting organization or from a nursing program accredited by the board of nursing, either of which shall include preparation in public health nursing.

251.06(1)(b)2.
2. A bachelor's degree in public health, environmental health, the physical or biological sciences or a similar field.

251.06(1)(c)
(c) A local health officer of a Level III local health department shall have at least one of the following:

251.06(1)(c)1.
1. A master's degree in public health, public administration, health administration or, as defined in rules promulgated by the department, a similar field and 3 years of experience in a full-time administrative position in either a public health agency or public health work.

251.06(1)(c)2.
2. A bachelor's degree and 16 graduate semester credits towards a master's degree in public health, public administration, health administration or, as defined in rules promulgated by the department, a similar field and 5 years of experience in a full-time administrative position in either a public health agency or public health work.

251.06(1)(c)3.
3. A license to practice medicine and surgery under ch. 448 and at least one of the following:

251.06(1)(c)3.a.
a. Three years of experience in a full-time administrative position in either a public health agency or public health work.

251.06(1)(c)3.b.
b. Eligibility for certification by the American board of preventive medicine in public health or general preventive medicine.

251.06(1)(c)3.c.
c. A master's degree in public health, public administration, health administration or, as defined in rules promulgated by the department, a similar field.

251.06(1m)
(1m) Notwithstanding sub. (1), in a county with a county department under s. 46.23, the local health officer need not meet the requirements under sub. (1) if that county department employs at least one person who meets the requirements under sub. (1).

251.06(2)(a)(a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), a local health officer shall be a full-time employee of a local health department.

251.06(2)(b)
(b) A local health officer of a county health department in a county under s. 251.02 (3m) shall be a full-time employee of the county who meets the qualifications of a local health officer of a Level I local health department.

251.06(2)(c)
(c) A local health officer of a local health department of a village or town established under s. 251.02 (3m) or a local health officer of a multiple municipal local health department established under s. 251.02 (3r) shall be one of the following:

251.06(2)(c)1.
1. An employee of the local health department of the village or town or an employee of the multiple municipal local health department.

251.06(2)(c)2.
2. A full-time employee of a local health department other than that specified in subd. 1.

251.06(3)(c)
(c) Enforce any regulations that the local board of health adopts and any ordinances that the relevant governing body enacts, if those regulations and ordinances are consistent with state public health statutes and rules.

251.06(3)(d)
(d) Administer all funds received by the local health department for public health programs.

251.06(3)(e)
(e) Appoint all necessary subordinate personnel, assure that they meet appropriate qualifications and have supervisory power over all subordinate personnel. Any public health nurses and sanitarians hired for the local health department shall meet any qualification requirements established in rules promulgated by the department.

251.06(3)(f)
(f) Investigate and supervise the sanitary conditions of all premises within the jurisdictional area of the local health department.

251.06(3)(g)
(g) Have access to vital records and vital statistics from the register of deeds, as specified in ch. 69.

251.06(3)(h)
(h) Have charge of the local health department and perform the duties prescribed by the local board of health. The local health officer shall submit an annual report of the administration of the local health department to the local board of health.

251.06(3)(i)
(i) Promote the spread of information as to the causes, nature and prevention of prevalent diseases, and the preservation and improvement of health.

251.06(4)(a)(a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), a local health officer shall be appointed in the same manner as are members of a local board of health under s. 251.03 (2).

251.06(4)(b)
(b) In any county with a county executive that has a single county health department, the county executive shall appoint and supervise the county health officer. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the county board unless the county board, by ordinance, elects to waive confirmation or unless the appointment is made under a civil service system competitive examination procedure established under s. 59.52 (8) or ch. 63. The county health officer appointed under this paragraph is subject only to the supervision of the county executive. In a county with such a county health officer, the local board of health shall be only a policy-making body determining the broad outlines and principles governing the administration of the county health department.

251.06(4)(c)
(c) A local health officer of a village or town health department established under s. 251.02 (3m) and a local health officer of a multiple municipal local health department established under s. 251.02 (3r) shall be appointed by the local board of health.

251.08251.08
Jurisdiction of local health department. The jurisdiction of the local health department shall extend to the entire area represented by the governing body of the county, city, village or town that established the local health department, except that the jurisdiction of a county health department does not extend to cities, villages and towns that have local health departments. Cities, towns and villages having local health departments may by vote of their local boards of health determine to come under the jurisdiction of the county health department. No part of any expense incurred under this section by a county health department may be levied against any property within any city, village or town that has a local health department and that has not determined to come under the jurisdiction of the county health department.

251.09251.09
Joint services. Local health departments jointly may provide health services as agreed upon under s. 66.0301, unless, notwithstanding s. 66.0301, the agreement conflicts with a provision of this chapter.

251.10251.10
County health department, how financed. The county board shall appropriate funds for the operation of a single county health department that is established under s. 251.02 (1) and determine compensation of county health department employees. The local board of health shall annually prepare a budget of the proposed expenditures of the county health department for the ensuing fiscal year.

251.11(1)
(1) The local board of health of every multiple county health department established under s. 251.02 (3) and of every city-county health department established under s. 251.02 (1) shall annually prepare a budget of its proposed expenditures for the ensuing fiscal year and determine the proportionate cost to each participating county and city on the basis of equalized valuation. A certified copy of the budget, which shall include a statement of the amount required from each county and city, shall be delivered to the county board of each participating county and to the mayor or city manager of each participating city. The appropriation to be made by each participating county and city shall be determined by the governing body of the county and city. No part of the cost apportioned to the county shall be levied against any property within the city.

251.11(2)
(2) The local board of health of every multiple county health department established under s. 251.02 (3) and of every city-county health department established under s. 251.02 (1) shall, under this section, determine the compensation for the employees of multiple county health departments and city-county health departments.

251.12251.12
City health department, how financed. The common council shall appropriate funds for the operation of a city health department that is established as specified in s. 251.02 (1) and (2) and for the operation of a multiple municipal local health department that is established under s. 251.02 (3r) by the governing body of a city in concert with the governing body of another city or a village or town.

251.125251.125
Village health department, how financed. If a village health department is established under s. 251.02 (2) or (3m) or if a multiple municipal local health department is established under s. 251.02 (3r) by the governing body of a village in concert with the governing body of another village or a city or town, the village board shall appropriate funds for the operation of the department.

251.127251.127
Town health department, how financed. If a town health department is established under s. 251.02 (3m) or if a multiple municipal local health department is established under s. 251.02 (3r) by the governing body of a town in concert with the governing body of another town or a city or village, the town board shall appropriate funds for the operation of the department.

251.13251.13
City-county health department and multiple county health department, joint funds. For each multiple county or city-county health department, a joint health department fund shall be created either in the treasurer's office where the principal office of the health department is located or in the office of the city treasurer of a city within the health department's jurisdiction, as determined by the local board of health. The treasurer of each county and city participating in the health department shall annually pay or cause to be paid into the fund the share of the county or city. This fund shall be expended by the treasurer in whose office the fund is kept in the manner prescribed by the local board of health pursuant to properly authenticated vouchers of the health department signed by the local health officer.

251.135251.135
Publication and effective date of orders and regulations. The orders and regulations of a local board of health shall be published as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, and shall take effect immediately after publication. No local board of health is required to use the term "regulation" to refer to a regulation that is published under this section.